Medical wood splint



y T. E. JACKSON 2318,864

MEDICAL WOOD SPLINT Filed Feb. 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 9ATTORNEY May 11, 1943. -r 5 JACKSON 2,318,864

MEDICAL WOOD SPLINT Fil'ed Feb. 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'ATTORNEY.

' INVENTOR Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to splints of the type employed by physicians andsurgeons in setting or reducing bone fractures, the principal objectbeing the provision of a splint of this type by means of which afractured bone may be set or reduced and held in place during knittingof the bone in a simpleand efiicient manner, and that will eliminate theneed of a plaster case in most instances together with the weight anddiscomforture thereof.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a medical orsurgical splint of curved cross-sectional configuration approximatingthe cross-sectional curvature of that portion of a human arm or limb towhich it is adapted to be applied and of sufficient transverseflexibility to permit it to be drawn into conformity to thecrosssectional curvature of such arm or limb, but being substantiallyrigid in a longitudinal direction and resistant to bending in thedirection of length thereof; the provision of a medical or surgicalsplint of the type described formed of relatively thin material andprovided with longitudinally overlapping slots 'therein impartingtransverse flexibility thereto but having in particular un-' slottedmarginal side portions of sufilcient width to impart longitudinalrigidity thereto; the provision of a medical splin't of thetypedescribed together with a separately formed handgrip portionapplicable to one end thereof and capable of being fixed thereto in aposition found to be most natural for the particular patient to whichthe splint is applied; the provision of a surgical splint having ahandgrip portion as above described and in which the connection betweenthe splint and the handgrip portion permits swiveling of the handgripportion upon the end of the splint in adjusting the handgrip portion tofit the particular patient to which the splint is applied; the provisionof a medical Wood splint of the type described and handgrip portiontherefor in which the splint is provided with a rounded end portion andthe handgrip portion is provided with a slot to which the rounded end ofthe splint is receivable and in which the splint is capable of of thetype described in which the offset end portion is provided with a handgrip pivotally associated therewith and capable of being secured insuitably adjusted relation with respect to the splint; and'the provisionof a surgical splint including a main body portion formed of relativelythin material and of curved cross-sectional configuration over the majorportion of its length and having an end portion thereof benttransversely to the general plane of thickness thereof into offsetrelation with respect thereto, the main body portion being provided withlongitudinal slots therein imparting transverse flexibility to the mainbody portion thereof and at least one of which slots extendsinto thelongitudinal curvature of the offset end thereof.

Still further objects of the present invention include the provision ofa surgical splint having a handgrip portion supported at one endthereof, the handgrip portion comprising a member presenting an exteriorsurface forming a part of an approximate sphere or ball; the provisionof a medical wood split of the type described in which the effectivediameter of the ballor sphere approximates the natural curvature of thebones in the hand of the patient to which it is to be ap plied; theprovision of a splint of the type described in which means are providedfor connecting the ball or sphere with the'splint enabling the relativeposition of the ball with respect to the splint to be varied to meet theexigency of each particular case; the provision of a construction asabove described in which the connection between the splint and theball-like handgrip may 3 be varied to position the center of the ball atdifferent distances with respect to the plane of the associated end ofthe'splint; the provision of a construction as above described in whichthe balllike handgrip is provided with a plurality of slots therein eachcapable in turn of receiving the cooperating end of the splint, theangle of each slot with respect to a plane passing through thecenscribed having a hollow center and an opening leading thereinto forthe purpose of facilitating the securement of adhesive tape or the liketo the The above being among the objects of the present invention thesame consists in certain novel features of construction and combinationsof parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate suitable embodiments ofthe present invention and in which like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several different views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of a pair ofsplints constructed in accordance with the present invention to theforearm and the hand of a patient;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower splint andhandgrip illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the splint and hand- .grip assembly illustratedin Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line '5-5 of Fig. 4and illustrating the manner in which the handgrip may be swivelablyadjusted on the end of the splint proper;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the upper splint illustrated in Fig.1;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the splint shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the-employment of amodified form of handgrip;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partially broken, partially sectioned sideelevational view of the splint and handgrip shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the splint and handgrip shown in Fig. 9 andillustrating the manner in which the handgrip portion thereof may bevaried in lateral position with respect to the longitudinal center lineof the splint; Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are views of the same part as shownin Fig. 10 but illustrating the handgrip portion as being differentlyapplied to the splint in each case through engagement of the latter witha different slot of the former whereby to enable adjustment of the twoparts to enable different parts of the hand, the wrist, or the forearmof the patient to be stressed to best meet the exigency of theparticular fracture to be reduced thereby;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 but illustrating amodified form of splint; and,

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but illus trating a still furthermodified form of splint,

Wooden or like splints have long been used in the medical professioneither alone or in combination with plaster of Paris casts, in thesetting or reduction of fractured bones. Those splints heretoforeprovided. as far as I am aware, have been of a more or less make-shiftnature in most cases, most uncomfortable to the patient and in manycases questionable as to their effectiveness in holding the fracturedbone in proper position particularly when employed without the use of acooperating cast. Attempts have been made in the past to provide asplint of this general type capable of conforming to the transversecross-sectional configuration of the patients arm or limb to which thesplint is to be applied but, as far as I am aware, in such cases wherean attempt has been made to render the splint flexible in a transversedirection desirable rigidity in the longitudinal direction has beensacrificed.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a medicalor surgical splint which will have a sufiicient degree of flexibility ina transverse direction to enable it to conform to the curvature of thepatients arm or leg to which it is intended to be applied and yet be ofsufficient rigidity longitudinally to prevent any undesirable yieldingof the fractured bone during healing. While both the splint and thehandgrip portion of the present invention may be made from metal, anysuitable moldable material such as plastics or the like, or may be madeof wood, for the sake of economy it will usually be made from a suitabletype of wood and, accordingly, in most cases reference to the lattermaterial only will be made in the following specification for thepurpose of simplicity in description, the possibility of the use ofother materials being rendered self-evident thereby.

It will also be understood in the following description that wheredeemed desirable a plaster cast may be employed in wholly or partiallysurrounding relation with respect to the splints and handgripsdescribed, although such casts will be unnecessaryin most cases. Thisfact being understood no further reference to such casts will benecessary.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings and particularly to Fig. 1,the application of splints to the forearm and hand of a patient requiring the reduction of a simple Colles fracture. where it is desiredto carry the knuckles of the hand in the plane with a point in the wristand upper forearm,.is illustrated. The splints in this case consist of alower splint indicated generally at 20 provided with a handgrip portion22 adapted to be grasped by the hand 24 of the patient, and an uppersplint indicated generally at 26 applied to the outer side of theforearm of the patient and extending down over the wrist thereof, thewrist and lower forearm of the patient being rigidly held between thesplints 20 and 26 by binding the two together by means of tape or thelike 28 encircling the same. The upper splint 26 will not be required inall cases but is shown by way of illustration of one use to which thisparticular type of splint may be applied.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 which illustrate the constructionof the lower splint 20 and handgrip 22 in detail, it will be seen thatthe splint 20 is formed from a relatively wide but thin strip ofsuitable wood to provide a main body portion 30 and an end portion 32connected thereto by a curved neck portion 33. The main body portion 30is relatively straight longitudinally but is of curved transversesection, such curvature preferably being such as to approximately fitthe inner surface of the forearm of an average patient. This main bodyportion 30 of the splint 20 is provided with a central longitudinallyextending slot 34 extending therethrough and a pair of slots 3-5positioned in spaced relation one on each side of the slot 34. The slots34 and 36 are provided for two purposes, one of which is to provideventilation through the splint and the more important of which is toimpart transverse flexibility to the main body portion of the splint,this feature being enhanced by extending these slots so as to overlapone another longitudinally of the splint, as viewed from the side of thesplint. The slots 36 are preferably extended through the inner end ofthe main body portion as illustrated in Fig. 3 thereby to separate theinner end of the main body portion into three distinct sections toenhance the fiexi bility at this end. The. outermost slots 36 arepreferably maintained at:a substantial distance inwardly from themarginal side edges of the main body portion 30 so that these side edgepor tions, being relatively wide and being positioned with theirapproximate plane at an angle to each other, will impart a materiallongitudinal rigidity to the splints.

The thickness of theisplint is preferably such in relation to thematerial from which it. is formed as to impartto the splint a sufficientflexibility transversely-thereof which will permit ii; to be drawn intoconformity with the trans- I verse curvature of the patients forearmwhen bound thereto aswith tape or the like, but of suflicientthickness-as-to render it of sufficient rigidity longitudinally thereofto prevent any undesired movement between the two parts of the fracturedbone duringreduction of the fracture.

The particular typ of wood or of other material from which the splintismade is preferablysuch as to permit X-rays to be taken therethrough Ifications of the construction hereinafter described various angularrelationships of the plane of the end of the splint, corresponding withthe end 32, with respect to the general plane of the main body portionof the splint; is illustrated. Where the end portion 32 is arranged withthe plane of its thickness at an angle to the general plane of thicknessof the main body portion 30 the slot 34 is preferably extended into thecurved neck portion 33 of the splint connecting the end portion 32 ofthe main body portion 33, this particularly being preferable tofacilitate the shaping during manufacture and which in the case of woodsplints is preferably accomplished by steaming the splint and clampingit to a form or suitable shape until dry. The extension of the slot 34into the neck 33 is not sufficient to impart material transverseflexibility to this curved neck portion but inasmuch as there is nonecessity for the end portion 32 to be transversely flexible this isunimportant. The end portion It will be understood that splints such asthe splint 20 shown are made in right and left with a neck portionconnecting the end 32 and the main body 30 offset to the left in planview for accommodation of the left arm and hand of a patient and to theright for accommodation of the right hand and arm of the patient, thepar-' ticularsplint shown by way of illustration being that adapted forapplication to the left arm and the hand of a patient. In such case itwill be observed that the approximate line of the outer end surface ofthe head 38 is positioned at an angle to a plane perpendicular to theaxial line of the main body portion 30 and the grip 22'is appliedthereto in approximate parallelism with the line of the outer end of thehead 38. HoW ever, because it is desirable to cock the Wrist of apatient either one way or another in order to properly reduce thefracture, depending upon the type and position of the fracture, thesides of the head 38 are curved in plan view and the Width of the slot43 in the handgrip'ZZ is preferably such as to relatively closelyreceive the head therein to prevent undesirable lateral movement of onewith respect to the other. The curved side portions of the head 38permit the handgrip 22 to be swiveled thereon as brought out in Fig. 5so that the angularity of the plane of thickness of the grip 22 withrespect to the axial line of the splint may be varied to suit theparticular condition met with when in serv ice. After the splint and thegrip 22 has been applied to the patient to determine the desiredangularity of the grip 22 with respect to the splint, it is then removedand two or more tacks, brads, or the like 52 are driven into thehandgrip 22 and through the head 38 received in the groove 49 thereof soas to fix the grip 22 in position on the splint 20. 7

From the above it will be appreciated that in accordance with thepresent invention a splint of sufficient transverse flexibility topermit it to be readily caused to conform to the shape of a patientsarm, and yet of sufficient longitudinal rigidity to prevent yielding inthis direction, is provided and that a handgrip is associated therewithwhich may be varied in position on the end of the splint to accommodateeither the particular shape of the patients hand or to enable a stressof the desired character to be applied to the patients hand or forearmto best enable a particular fracture to be reduced. Furthermore byproviding a number of such splints each 32 itself and particularly theextremity thereof is preferably of flat configuration transverselythereof.

From an inspection of Figs. 3 and 5 it will be noted that the freeextremity of the end portion 32 is laterally enlarged to form a head 38.The head 38 is received in a slot 40 formed in the handgrip portion 22.The handgrip portion 22 is formed from a thicker piece of wood arrangedwith the plane of its thickness approximately perpendicular to the planeof the head 38. It is prefer-ably made of a piece of wood having athickness of between three-quarters and one inch and is preferablyshaped to provide one end thereof of greater height than the oppositeend thereof and the upper surface thereof is preferably rounded offwhere it is received in th palm of the hand. The higher end of the grip22 is always positioned toward the thumb of the patient.

having the plane of its end portion arranged at a different angle withrespect to the genera-l plane of the main body portion thereof,substantially any desired variation in the tension on various parts ofthe patients forearm may be obtained to best reduce a particular typeand location of fracture. 1

The use of the handgrip 22 in conjunction with the splint serves twodifferent purposes. In' cases where binding of the fingers to thehandgrip 22 is not required, the latter is often desirable in order tobetter rest the hand of the patient and 'reduce discoinfortureoccasioned by the application of the cooperating splint. Additionally itis often desirable to definitely hold the hand of the patient in apredetermined position and against grip 22 permits the desiredpositioning and securement of the hand without undue discomforture tothe patient.

- The employment of the handgrip 22 or equivalent handgrip is notessential in the practices of the broader phases of the presentinvention. For instance, in Fig. 1, it will be apparent that the splint26 includes no associated hand grip nor would the use of a handgrip bepossible in connection therewith. The splint 26 is shown in detail inFigs. 6 and 7 from which it will be observed that it more or lessconforms with the main body portion of the splint 26. In other words itis of curved cross-sectional configuration throughout its length, it isprovided with central slots 44 and laterally offset pairs of slots 46,each pair of slots 46 longitudinally overlapping an end of a centralslot 44. In the particular case shown, the slots 46 at the inner end ofthe splint extend through the corresponding ends of the splint the sameas in the splint 26 but in this case, a second central slot 44 isprovided at the forward end of the splint and in this case thisparticular slot extends outwardly through the forward end of the splint.As in the case of the splint 26, the side slots 46 are positioned amaterial distance inwardly from the side margins of the splint so as toprovide opposite side marginal portions of substantial width which,because of the transverse curvature of the splint, are positioned inapproximate planes disposed at angles to each other to thereby impartadded rigidity to the splint in a direction longitudinally thereof,while the slots 44 and 46 impart sufficient transverse flexibility tothe splint to enable it to be readily brought into conformance to thetransverse curvature of the arm, limb or other part of the body of thepatient to which it is applied. Although the type of splint illustratedat 26 is preferably substantially straight as indicated, it may belongitudinally curved if desired and it may be made various lengths tofit the various parts of the arms or limbs of patients of various sizes,and may be used either singly or in multiple in the reduction of afracture.

In Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive, a slightly different form of splint and adifferent form of handgrip portion is illustrated. This combination maybe used for the same purpose as splint 26 and handgrip 22 previouslydescribed, but, in addition, the handgrip portion, which may be employedwith the same type of splint as the splint 26, or other forms of splintsconstructed in accordance with the present invention, is particularlyadaptable for use in connection with a fracture of different bones ofthe hand. The splint itself, which is indicated generally at 56, isessentially the same as the splint previously described except that theend portion is shown as extending in the same general plane as the mainbody portion of the splint and as not being laterally offset, thispermitting it to be used either as a right or a left. The main bodyportion of the splint 56 is curved in transverse section and its outerend portion 52 is planar and is provided with a head 54 of transverselyincreased dimension, the outer edge portions of which are curved in amanner similar to and for the same purpose as the sides of the head 38previously described.

The handgrip portion of the splint shown in Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive, isindicated at 56 and is actually formed as part of a ball or sphere or toa shape approximately conforming to a ball or sphere. It is providedwith at least oneslot and preferably, as will be more fully explained, a

plurality of slots 58, 66, 62, and 64 arranged in angularly spacedrelation around the grip and in any one of which the head. 54 of thesplint 56 may be received. Because of the curved side edges of the head.54 and splint 56, the grip 56 may be swiveled to bring this center toeither one side or the other of the longitudinal center line of thesplint 56 as viewed in plan view as illustrated in Fig. 10, thus toaccommodate either the right or left hand of the patient and to stressvarious parts of the wrist or forearm to meet the exigencies of anyparticular situation.

The ball grip 56 is preferably hollow as illustrated and one facethereof is flattened off as at 66 so as to provide an opening leadinginto the hollow interior of the ball for purposes which will hereinafterbe more fully explained. However, the face 66 is useful at this point inorder to explain the differences in the relation of the slots 58, 66, 62and 64 with respect to each other. As illustrated in Fig. 9, slot 58 isarranged with the plane of its faces in approximate parallel relationwith respect to the face 66, this position of the slot being such thatwhen the cooperating ends of splint 56 is received therein, the centerof the ball grip 56 is positioned just a slight amount above the planeof the outer ends of splint 56 as illustrated in Fig. 9. The slot 66, asbest brought out in Fig. 11, is disposed at such an angle with respectto the plane of the face 66 that when the end of the splint 56 isreceived therein, the plane of the face 66 is disposed at an angle withrespect to the general plane of the splint 56, as illustrated in Fig.11, to bring the center of the ball grip 56 slightly below the plane ofthe outer end of the splint 56. The plane of the slot 64, as illustratedin Fig. 13, is'such that when the end of the splint 56 is receivedtherein, the center of the ball grip 56 is disposed still further belowthe plane of the outer end of the splint 56 and with the plane of theface 66 disposed at still a greater angle with respect to the splint 56.When the outer end of the splint 56 is received in the slot 62, thecenter of the ball grip 56 is disposed at a greater distance above theplane of the outer ends of splint 56 than when received in the slot 58and as illustrated in Fig. 9. The grip 56 may be locked in any one ofthese slots and in-the desired swivelably adjusted position brought outin Fig. 10, in the same general manner as illustrated in connection withthe handgrip 22 on the splint 26 first described, namely by the use oftacks, brads, or the like 68.

The diameter of the ball end 56 is preferably such as to fit thecurvature of the palm and fingers of the patient when in position ofnatural repose. For a patient having an average size of hand, thisrequires a ball or sphere of approximately three and one-half inches indiameter. I have found that by the use of this ball type of grip apatients hand may be securely bound to it without causing the patientthe almost unbearable pain and aching so commonly associated with thereduction of fractures of the bones of the hand and fingers with theconventional type of straight or flat splints. Furthermore, it isinvaluable in the reduction of fracture of the entire hand and of brokenor fractured phalanxes and metacarpals inasmuch as it holds these bonesat their natural curvature and prevents exostosis of bone formation frombeing built up between the inner margins of the break as invariablyoccurs in the reduction of fractures of bones of the hand by use of theordinary straight or Banjo type of splint.

.tance of the palmer arches.

It is also desired to call to attention another advantage of this balltype of grip permitting arrangement of the hand in the natural positionof grasp. This advantage is that it takes into consideration the archedengagement of the anatomy of the hand and the functional impor- Manydisfunctioning hands will be found to have been caused by disregard ofthe arch anatomy of the hand in attempting to reduce the fracture ofsome part thereof. It is my experience that the natural curvature andarches of the hand and the desirability of maintaining the same in thereduction of a fracture has not received proper emphasis in the past.With the use of a splint and a ball grip as above described it isimpossible to oblit erate the palmer arches. The longitudinal arches.(the carpus, metacarpus and straight fiexion adopted by the digits atrest), the proximal and the distal transverse arches, should not beflattened during the reduction of a fracture as the flattening of any ofthese arches plays a part in the hyperex-tension deformity too oftenseen. The flexibility of the arches are increased or decreased bymuscular action and,

are, in active use of the hand, constantly changing according to theneeds of function. The muscles of the thernar and thehypo-thenareminences play a predominant roll in controlling these movements, whichare called-forth chiefly by opposition of the flngers and thumb. The useof improper splints which flatten the hand causes pressure injury andatrophy of these muscles, without which proper functioning of the handis impossible.

Another advantage of the use of the multiple slots of varying angularityis that the ball grip 56 may be located with respect to the plane of thesplint so as to cook the hand in any desired position to obtain thedesired tension in various parts of the hand, wrist, or forearm bestfitted to the reduction of a particular fracture. Where the type offracture requires an extreme amount of cocking of the hand with respectto the plane of the splint, it may be required to position the ball end56 as illustrated in either Figs. 12 or 13. The type illustrated inthese figures is designed for use in the reduction of a Colles fracturewith the accompanying displacement of one or more carpus or where thereis a further carpus involvement such as impaction, dislocation orfracture, the curvature of the ball grip in such case being of materialadvantage in maintaining the longitudinal arch and the transverse archesof the carpal area in their naturally curved condition. This extremeamount of cooking of the hand is liable to become extremely tiresome tothe patient with the passage of time. In such case, after the hand hasbeen held in position sufficiently long to effect an initial knittingaction, the splint may be removed and the ball end 55 removed andreplaced at a smaller angle with respect to the general plane of thesplint, and the splint re-applied, so as to reduce to a great measurethe inconvenience to the patient.

As perhaps best brought out in Fig. 8, where a handgrip of the ball typeis employed, it is positioned to be received in the palm of the patientshand, and then such necessary tape or other fastenings ar attached tothe fingers and/or the hand of the patient and extended down over theedge 66 of the ball end and the ends of the tape turned inwardly andupwardly on the interior surface of the ball ends to which they may beadhered. This ability to turn the end of the tap under and over the edgeof the ball ends provides a secure lock for the tape and prevents thepossibility of inadvertent displacement of the same which might bedetrimental to the welfare of the patient.

In Figs. 14 and 15, the same ball end 56 is shown applied to splints ofsomewhat modified character. In Fig; 14 the splint is indicatedgenerally at 10 and inFig. 15, generally at 88. Both the splints Hi andmay be assumed to be of the same general shape in plan View as thesplint 50 but it Will be appreciated that they may also be of the samegeneral type first described if found either desirable or necessary. Themain difference between the splint l0 and the splint 50 is that thesplint i9 is provided with an upwardly extending bulge or roll 12intermediate the main body portion of the splint and the outer endthereof which is connected to the ball end 56. The bugle or roll 12 isshaped to support the wrist of the patient immediately inwardly of thepalm of the hand and is desirable under certain conditions in thereduction of certain types of fractures, particularly ofv the wrist. Itwill be understood that the ball end 56,may.be secured to the splintlllthrough any one of the various slots therein, the same as in thepreviously described construction and it may be swiveled upon th endofthe splint in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 10 ofthe'previously described construction. v A I The splint 80, asillustratedin Fig. 15, is provided with an end portion 82, the plane ofwhich is disposed at a material angle, which may be for instance 30", 45or at a greater angularity with respect to the general plane of the mainbody portion of the splint 80. This type of splint has been foundvaluable particularly in the reduction of a simple Colles fracture,where it is desirous of carrying the knuckues in a plane with a point inthe wrist and upper forearm. The seat of a Colles fracture is comparedto that of an inverted dinner fork and is known as the silver forkdeformity, and with the possibility of varying the position of the ballgrip with respect to the splints both in the direction illustrated inFig. 10 and in the manner illustrated in Figs. 9, 11, 12 and 13, it willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that following the plane ofCotton and Loder, if the ulna is the fixed point about which the hand isdisplaced, it should be made the fixed point for effecting andmaintaining reduction. Since the displacement of the lower fragments ofthe ulna and radius and hand is in the direction of extension andsupination, correction is to be obtained by the positions of palmerflexion and pronation. With the placing of the ball grip 56 to meet therequirements of the fracture, adduction, abduction, or deviations can bemade in order to maintain the correction. These positions of palmerflexion, pronation and deviation have proved their value in reduction ofdiflicult cases, but it is found that early restoration to normalposition of function is highly desirable and should be modified as soonas possible. This may be readily accomplished with the constructionshown by removing the ball grip 56 and replacing it on the splint withthe plane of the face 65 arranged to reduce the angularity of the partsaffected. I have found that reduction of fractures of the type describedis greatly facilitated by the above practices and the return of theparts to normal function is enhanced. By employing a splint of this typewith an end portion such as the end portion 82, where its plane isdisposed of the main body portion of the splint, regardless of whetherthe ball end 56 is employed -or whether a grip such as the grip 22 isemployed, I have found that reduction-of fractures of the type describedis greatly facilitated.

Itwill be understood that the specific examples of the invention hereinshown and described'are illustrative rather than limiting intheir natureand, accordingly, it will be understood that formal changes may be madein the specific embodiments of the invention described without departingfrom the spirit or substance of the invention, the scope of which iscommensurate with-the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a surgical splint device combination, an

elongated splint portion adapted fo'r-securement 'to the forearm of apatient and ahandgrip portion carried thereby and adapted to receive thehand of a patient, said handgrip portion'formed to represent-at leastapart'of a sphere and of a size to approximately conform to the naturalcurvature of the innersurface of the hand of a patient when in aposition of'natural repose.

2. In combination, a handgrip formed to represent at least part ofa'spherical surface and having a slot therein, and a surgicalsplintadaptedfor securement' to the forearm of a patient,

having an end received in said slot.

3. In a surgical splint device, in combination, a handgrip-memberformedto present at least part-'ofa spherical surface andihavingaplurality of slots therein, the plane of each .slot passing throughsaid handgrip in a different relation -with=1'-espect to the center ofsaid sphere as compared to the remaining slots therein, and an,elongatedsplint portion adapted for reception of --a forearm of apatient and receivable in any one of said slots.

:4. -A surgical splint comprising an elongated member ofsubstantial-widthand relatively small thickness including-amain-bodyportion and an end portion, and a handgrip portion having a slot thereinin which an end ofsaid splint 'is received and relatively swivelablewith respect thereto, and-means for rsecuring'sa'id handgrip portion inswivelably adjusted relation on the end of said splint portion, saidhandgrip portion being formed to present-at least a part of approxi-

